The following is a statement from the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus regarding Rep. Tyrone Brooks, a longtime civil rights activist and a Georgia State Representative. Brooks was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he misappropriated almost $1 million in charitable funds from Universal Humanities, a charity he founded in 1990, and the Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO), in May. Brooks, however, has not been removed from his elected post.

The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus is saddened to hear of the indictment of Representative Tyrone Brooks. Rep. Brooks is a distinguished veteran of the struggle for civil rights in Georgia. These allegations cannot erase his record of service and sacrifice.

An indictment does not in and of itself prove any criminal liability and carries with it no proof of guilt. The presumption of innocence is fundamental to our system of criminal justice and it is our hope that individuals will not jump to any conclusion while this case is pending.

Representative Brooks, his family, and his constituents need our support at this time. He is our friend and a respected public official and we stand along side of him. [sic]

We pray for impartial justice on his behalf. His contributions to the fight for civil rights demands no less!